Fair-minded

One of the people who rode the Tea Party bandwagon into office in 2010 was Scott Tipton. Over the past two years, the district that sent him to Congress has had the time to see just how these ultra-conservative, anti-government, elected officials conduct themselves in office and serve the needs of constitiuients.

The track record is not a good one. He has voted against job creation and for reduction in services. I will give Scott credit for spearheading an effort to enhance the ability of small hydro-electric projects to move forward, but at the same time, he voted against extending tax credits for other alternative energy like solar and wind, which has hurt start-ups in Colorado like Vestas. The most odd thing he did was try to get the authority of a president to designate monuments through the Antiquities Act reniged, while at the same time pledging support for the president to designate Chimney Rock as a national monument.

Colorado, as a state, defied much of the Tea Party agenda back in 2010 by electing a Democratic Senator and Democratic Governor, both of whom have served well in their capacities. More moderate Republicans were elected to the Colorado State Legislature, and as a result tough decisions were made in a bi-partisan way — thanks in part to the leadership of people like Sal Pace.

Now Sal wants to bring that same kind of openness to Congress. He wants to be able to work with colleagues to bring back the reputation Congress once had as a bi-partisan body where things got done. He really wants to work to end gridlock, while at the same time assuring constituients here in Colorado are served by Washington instead of the other way around. Sal Pace is a fair-minded leader this state needs to send to Congress, and as a result I support him.